1 out of 3 ... is ME

One out of three women in the United States has an abortion by the age of 45.
Still the experience remains shrouded in silence, and for some women, shame.
This is a pro-choice abortion blog based on my personal experience.

Thursday, January 9, 2014

I am like the woman the end of this piece, except for every now and then when I recall with great admiration the doctor who performed my second trimester abortion, or that moment when I was alone in the room, or a few other moments, that I haven't shared.

I remain, however many years it has been, because I really don't count any more, staunchly pro-choice and ever-more convinced that I did what I should have regarding me.

Friday, January 20, 2012

The theme of this year's Blog For Choice day is "What will you do to help elect pro-choice candidates in 2012?"

Dear Voters,

Are you, along with 37% of Americans represented by the latest CBS/New York Times poll in support of abortion being generally available? Or even, along with another 37% concerned that abortion remain legal under stricter limits? Then you'd better start paying attention to the position on abortion of the candidates you elect this year! There are several bills about to enter the Senate, where if they pass, will become law.

May 4, 2011 58% of the House of Representatives voted (H.R.3) to restrict federal funding of abortion, an admittedly long standing restriction.

More worrisome however was The May 26, 2011 vote by 56% of the House that banned the use of federal funds to train physicians to perform abortion, the only legal medical procedure to be treated as such (consider for example the use of federal funds to train physicians on fertility treatments to which there are also moral obligations).

Not content to limit physicians with access to training to perform abortion, in Oct 2011 58% of the House voted to preclude individuals from using federally provided funds to purchase health insurance that included abortion coverage (The President has threatened to veto this Bill should it pass the Senate as well).

There were actually 8 votes in total affecting reproductive choice. See the voting record here (and at the bottom look at all the additional attempts to limit women's access to legal abortion!)

Write, call, petition, picket, do whatever it takes. if you are in the one out of three women who has had an abortion in her lifetime, please make sure that abortion remains legal for women in the future.

"Which of these comes closest to your view? Abortion should be generally available to those who want it. OR, Abortion should be available, but under stricter limits than it is now. OR, Abortion should not be permitted."

Wednesday, January 18, 2012

ok, just checked the dates on this blog and I didn't quite, but there we have anecdotal information about post abortion trauma. I've none, whatsoever. I don't think about my abortion really ever unless the topic comes up. I've become even more zen with the grey area in which abortion exists for me. As I wrote at the time, I know what fetal development looks like. I realize that with time and luck fetuses ex utero become people. And I'm still quite OK with having an abortion.

Friday, January 21, 2011

Given the anti-choicegains in the states and Congress, are you concerned about choice in 2011?

Yes in particular as a woman who had a “later” abortion, and the moves by “moderate” abortion advocates to ‘compromise” I’m quite concerned about CHOICE in 2011.

The most likely outcome of the anti-CHOICE gains is not an outright repeal of Roe, which would no doubt galvanize pro-CHOICE people the way the Webster decision did in the late eighties, but rather a gradual restriction to the right to abortion.The most likely moves regard second trimester abortions.With the frontiers of medical intervention pushing viability ever earlier, although often without regard for consequence or quality of life, seemingly reasonable people find it difficult to argue to with parsing the semantics of abortion.i.e. abortion in the first trimester but not in the second.This criteria, is of course, imbedded in Roe’s vague language about viability.However, reasonable people may differ in their criteria of “viability,” i.e. breathing independently v ventilator, eating alone v nasal gastric tube.The logistics and logic are never as clear as “reasonable” people may believe.And until you face the CHOICE yourself, you have no idea what CHOICE you would make.

CHOICE is a relative term of course.One can only make a CHOICE for example, if aware that there is a CHOICE to be made.I made my CHOICE with all due speed, within a few weeks of becoming aware of my pregnancy, but given the present climate of “compromise” I am all too aware that a woman in a similar situation in the very near future may face NO CHOICE at all.

Or rather the only CHOICE many women may face is where to obtain their illegal abortion, because if the past is any guide to the future, we can be assured that women will still CHOOSE to pursue abortions.The CHOICE we face is whether we return toillegal abortion, killing women in the process.

Because ONE OUT OF THREE women of reproductive age in the United States has had an abortion, I encourage them all to raise their voices, and their vote, to ensure that their CHOICE is still available for women in the future.

Saturday, January 15, 2011

Just in time for Roe V Wade anniversary and blog for choice! What a wonderful thing! My abortion provider is my hero! My (no longer) OB/gyn is not.

I just stumbled onto your blog. I just spent some time combing through it and I think you're an incredible woman. I love that are so many of us that are strong, and brave and honest and can talk about our thoughts about experiences. The truth is, that's what we need. Honest perspectives, good, bad and ugly. as long as it's all true. That's why I'm inviting you to submit to my blog ProchoiceThankyous.com. The goal of my project is to encourage pro-choicers to send their thanks to anyone that makes abortion possible in this world. Lord knows they have to deal with a tremendous amount of shit. It's nice to show them a little appreciation. You can go to my site for more info or examples and of course you're welcome to email me. Let me know what you think.